shown unwavering commitment to
implementing and updating the accessibility features found on OS X and iOS,
even going so far as to tip
its hat to the accessibility community in its iPhone TV ads. The
accessibility features found on Apple’s platforms enable users with special
needs- myself included-to interact with their devices with as much fluidity
and delight as the fully-abled do.
But while the norm is to focus on accessibility software, accessibility can
apply just as aptly to hardware. For me, Apple’s
iPhone 5s is a perfect example. I’ve used the iPhone 5s since
launch day and have found Apple’s flagship iPhone to be a terrific
accessibility tool for three reasons: its larger display; thinner, lighter
body; and its Touch ID sensor. All together, these features make using my
phone easier than ever, and a lot more fun too.
It’s easier on the eyes
Every iPhone I’ve had since the 2007 original has been of the 3.5-inch
variety. That changed this past September when I upgraded from my trusty
companion of two years, an
iPhone 4S, to a shiny new iPhone 5s.
As a visually-impaired person, I greatly enjoy the extra screen real estate
I get from the larger, 4-inch display.
As a visually-impaired person, I greatly enjoy the extra screen real estate
I get from the larger, 4-inch display. Generally speaking, bigger is always
better for someone like me, and the iPhone 5s’s display is awesome. Not only
do I retain the
glorious Retina display,
but also the bigger screen has benefitted me as I find myself not squinting
as much as I used to on the smaller screen. Since the screen is bigger and
can hold more information, I don’t have to search as much for items. What’s
more, the Larger Dynamic Text option
introduced in iOS 7 makes it so that apps can support my preferred font
sizes system-wide, saving me from having to always adjust manually.
My eyes were accustomed to my old iPhone’s screen and did well with it, but
after using the 5s’s 4-inch screen regularly now, I can’t go back. By
comparison, the screen on the 4s feels comically small and cramped, and
makes my eyes hurt almost instantly.
It’s easier to hold
I never felt my old iPhones were too bulky or heavy; I held and carried them
everywhere I went without much hassle. Still, because of
cerebral palsy, I have to grip
my phone more tightly than most to compensate for reduced strength in my
fingers, which means my hands wear out. I also have small hands, which make
it more difficult to wrap my fingers around a large phone comfortably.
Hands on with iPhone 5sJason Snell
Thin and light, the iPhone 5 and 5s are much easier to hold for people with
small hands or limited strength in their fingers.
The body of the iPhone 5s is so much thinner and lighter than my 4s that I
find I don’t need to grip it as tightly. The aluminum enclosure is much
lighter (and more durable) than the glass on my 4S, making it easier for me
to hold it for prolonged periods without getting muscle cramps. The phone’s
size also makes it easier to get it in and out of my pocket-something I do
repeatedly throughout the day.
It’s easier to use, with special thanks to Touch ID
When Phil Schiller revealed the
Touch ID sensor as the marquee feature of the
iPhone 5s, I immediately started contemplating its potential impact on
accessibility. I was so intrigued by the idea that I
wrote about it
twice, wherein I posited
that the fingerprint sensor would be a dark-horse accessibility tool.
For those with vision- and motor-related disabilities, the fact that you’re
able to just rest your finger on the Home button to carry out common
security tasks is an absolute game-changer.
It turns out I
wasn’t alone in my thinking. For me, the hypothesis turned out to be
correct. Simply resting my thumb on the Home button to unlock my phone and
to make iTunes purchases is worlds better than clumsily hunting-and-pecking
out my passcode and Apple ID password. For those with vision- and
motor-related disabilities, the fact that you’re able to just rest your
finger on the Home button to carry out common security tasks is an absolute
game-changer. In fact, I would say Touch ID alone makes the 5s a worthwhile
buy for any user with special needs; it’s that good.
touchid
Touch ID isn’t just a nifty tool for me; it makes using my iPhone much,
much easier.
What’s next?
Truthfully, there aren’t many nits to pick about the iPhone 5s. I love it.
But, looking forward, I hope Apple will keep improving the iPhone’s
accessibility features, both in hardware and software.
Siri for everyone: Siri, Apple’s voice recognition-based personal assistant,
sounds like a great idea for people with motor or vision difficulties. After
all, if you can just
dictate your text messages and tell your phone to remember
appointments, you’re spared the need to type or tap. If you have speech
impediments like me, however, it’s a bust. I stutter, which makes it very
hard for Siri to understand me. Oftentimes it takes a few seconds to get out
the words, and Siri will cut me off because it thinks I’ve finished talking.
The bigger issue, though, is that more often than not Siri inaccurately
parses what I did say, which leaves me frustrated. It’s gotten to a point
where Siri is so unusable that I forego using my voice to do anything. (And,
let’s face it,
I’m not the only one who has trouble with Siri.) If
Apple wants to continue touting Siri as a hallmark feature of the iPhone, it
had better work hard to ensure Siri plays well with everyone.
A wearable option: As for hardware changes,
I believe
a wearable, wristband-type device would be a great complement to the iPhone,
in terms of accessibility. Because of my cerebral palsy, there are times
when holding my phone is hard. I sometimes find myself in situations (like
the grocery store) where I need to act on an important message, but my hands
are full and I can’t comfortably reach for my phone. A wristband device
could allow me to tap a button to read a message and then use (a working
version of) Siri to act on it. Rather than just being cool toys, wearable
devices could have a major role in enhancing the iPhone’s accessibility
appeal.]]>
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